José Arcia

Who is José Arcia?

José Raimundo Arcia Orta is a former Utility infielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1968 to 1970for the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres. Arcia was signed as an amateur free agent by the Houston Colt .45s in 1962 but would not make his major league debut for six years.

Arcia's rather circuitous route to the majors was notable in that he was traded three times as a minor leaguer, from Houston to the Detroit Tigers, from the Tigers to the Cleveland Indians, and from the Indians to the St. Louis Cardinals. Finally, in 1967's Rule 5 draft, the Cubs selected Arcia from the Cardinals organization. He opened the 1968 season as a member of the Cubs and remained with the club the whole season, batting .190 in 58 games as a rookie, hitting his only Major League home run, and playing six positions in the field. Despite his subpar offensive performance, Arcia found himself coveted again, selected by the Padres in the 1968 MLB expansion draft.

Arcia saw considerable playing time over the next two seasons with San Diego, serving as a rather versatile utility man. The only positions he did not play in his career were catcher and pitcher.